Spring at Keystone Resort Means Warmer Temperatures and Events for the Whole Family

19 March 2014

The official start of Spring will be marked on March 20, and along with longer days and warmer temperatures, Spring means great events, fantastic conditions and great deals for the whole family. Here are the top 10 reasons for your family to visit Keystone this Spring:

1. You Can Leave the Additional Layers at Home
Nothing can ruin a family ski day faster than “Mom, I’m cold”. Springtime means warmer temperatures, so you and your whole family can enjoy a comfortable day on the mountain, without the need for extra layers and bulky jackets.

2. Sunglasses are a Must
There’s nothing like enjoying fresh snow and mountain sunshine together. Spring means longer days and plenty of sunshine. So don’t forget the sunglasses and be sure to load up on the sunscreen, you’re going to need it!

3. Bring on the Mashed Potatoes
Spring sun and powder equal the skiers delight known as “mashed potatoes”. The soft, not-yet-slushy, texture of Spring snow is perfect for all level skiers and riders; making for super fun soft groomers, and a terrific learning (and sometimes falling surface). Whether your family is cruising through trees together, or just learning the “pizza”, everyone will be asking for seconds of these mashed potatoes!

4. Events, Events, Events
April is filled with so many events, you might be trying to squeeze in your skiing around all of Keystone’s Spring celebrations. The resort’s signature Kidtopiaprogramming will continue daily through Closing Day on April 20, with fun kid-friendly events including meet-and-greet with the avy dogs, DJ parties at the ice rink, Bigfoot Walks and of course, daily cookie hour at the Dercum Square Ice Rink at 4 p.m. Plus, make sure to practice that “princess” wave; every Saturday through April 19, Keystone hosts the best parade in ski country, right through the heart of River Run Village. Floats? Check. Mascots? Check. Choreographed dancing? Check!

Highlights of the Spring events schedule also include Keystone’s fourth-annual Slush Cupevent, Sunday April 20th. Wearing outrageous costumes, skiers and riders will compete for great prizes as they try and make their way across the man-made pond. Keystone will also host the second-annual Red Bull Schlittentag, Saturday, April 5. Schlittentag is the German word for “sledding day” and translates to families and friends willing to propel themselves on a hand-built sled down a snow-covered hill.

5. Great Lodging Deals
Skip the traffic, enjoy a second day on the mountain and do it all without breaking the family budget. Keystone’s more than 800 accommodates include many condo units, which easily fit the whole family and include great amenities such as full kitchens and in-unit laundry. Through April 20, the resort boasts plenty of rooms available for less than $150/night. Save up to 50% on Keystone lodging through April 20.

6. The Mountain is All Yours
The Holidays are long over, the Spring Break crowds have dispersed so now is the perfect time for your family to own the mountain. Enjoy wide-open groomers, perfect for progressing skills, and zipping through lift lines, without even time for a mid-day meltdown!

7. Kids Ski Free Every Day, All Season
We know it’s not easy to find the time, and money, to take a family vacation. That’s why Keystone has made a promise to return value to the family ski experience. Every day, all season long, through April 20, Kids 12 and under staying two or more nights in any Keystone owned/operated lodging unit (yes,
those units available for up to 50% off) ski FREE. No red tape, no hoops to jump through, just pure, simple value.

8. $79 Lift Tickets All Day, Every Day
Unfortunately we’re not all 12 and under anymore, but even for those slightly older, Keystone offers great discounts on lift tickets at keystonetickets.com. Every day, through April 20, you can purchase lift tickets for just $79, a savings of 25% or more off window rates. Best of all, you can purchase up to the night before! We know Moms and Dads are always forgetting to take care of themselves, but now you have up until 11:59 p.m. the night before you visit to buy those lift tickets and enjoy great discounts!

9. Two-for-Ones at Top Restaurants
Admit it, you’re ready for a date night! April is deal season across Keystone, and during your Spring stay you can enjoy two of Summit County’s best restaurants with two-for-one specials. The Keystone Ranchis situated on the Ranch golf course with sweeping views of mountaintop vistas and spectacular sunsets. You can enjoy the five-course menu for just $75 for two, April 8-12. Or, toast to the end of the season, April 17-20, in the quaint Ski Tipdining room while enjoying an exquisite four-course meal from Executive Chef Brian Baker for just $72 for two people, complete with dessert served fireside.

10. Celebrate Keystone’s Longest Season in 12 YearsIt has been more than a decade since Keystone was open as late as April 20; toast to an incredible season with late Spring turns, amazing events and family fun across the mountain during the resort’s Closing Weekend celebration, April 19-20. Keystone continues to be 100% open with more than 3,100 acres of skiable terrain. The resort has received nearly 20 inches of snow in the first 18 days of March, and conditions just keep getting better!

Don’t Forget 2014-2015 Vail Resorts’ Season Passes are Now on Sale
Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass is still unmatched in terms of popularity, access and value, offering unlimited and unrestricted skiing and riding at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge,Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Canyons in Park City, Utah; Heavenly, Northstar andKirkwood at Lake Tahoe; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan for the 2014-15 winter season. New this year, the Epic Pass also offers five free consecutive ski days at Niseko United in Japan, as well as the continued partnership with Verbier, Switzerland and Les 3 Vallées, France. Passes can now be purchased at epicpass.com.

The Epic Pass is $729 for adults and $379 for children (ages 5-12) and pays for itself in just over five days of skiing or riding. Guests can pay just $49 by April 13, 2014 to lock-in the guaranteed lowest price for a season pass. Value-conscious skiers and riders can also choose from a variety of pass products, including the Keystone-ABasin pass, reintroduced for the 2013-14 season and returning for the 2014-15 season. For just $289 snow-enthusiasts can enjoy access to two amazing resorts with only limited Holiday restrictions. Find your perfect pass product at epicpass.com.

About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Canyons in Park City, Utah; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.

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